Die foe forming wooden type



2 Sheets-'-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

W. H. PAGE. DIE FOR FORMING WOODEN TYPE.

N0. 402,852. Patented May7, 1889.

hon wuhm l n a (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. PAGE.

DIE FOR FORMING WOODEN TYPE.-

No. 402,852. Patented May 7, 1889.

- UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

l/VILLIAM H. PAGE, OF NORIVICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VILLIAM H. PAGE IVOOD TYPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DIE FOR FORMING WOODEN TYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,852, dated May 7, 1889.

Application filed December 5, 1888. Serial No. 292,734. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. PAGE, of Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Dies for Forming Vooden Type; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My said invention relates to dies of that class used for forming wood type by pressing back the wood on the parts of the block surrounding and bordering on the form of the letter, leaving the letter raised on the face of the block. This mode of making type Ihave improved to such an extent thatit is largely supersedin g the manufacture of such type by the old process of pantograph; but as in this mode of producing type a set of dies is required for every size of type, the outfit of a shopfor the manufacture of type by impression must be very large, and must include a complete set of dies for every set of type. Further, in the making of the dies for such type ordinarily a pantograph machine is used in which the rotary engraving-tool is not fitted to Work in the sharp angles, and, while it may perform the greater part of the engraving required in the manufacture of the die, it cannot perform all the work nor finish accurately such dies in every part. These defects I have sought to remedy by the construction hereinafter explained.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which is an illustration of the general principle of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a die for the letter B, showing on the left hand a letter with the parts placed together and on the right hand the same with the parts separated. Fig. 2 shows the letter D in like manner. Fig. 3 is a similar representation of the letter E. Fig. 4 shows the dies for-the letters 0, C, and G, with the parts common to all. Fig. 5 further illustrates the invention in reference to the letters U and J. Fig. 6 is a perspective view representing the dies of the letter L with the details of construction.

X in another style; and Fig. 8 in like manner illustrates the form and parts of the die for the letter M in the same style Fig. '7 is a similar view of the letter as Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a part of Fig. 7. All these figures, excepting 6 to 9, are plan views, and the raised portions of the dies are represented for the most part plain, while the sunken portions are represented by hatching, it being understood that the dies are in respect to the raised and sunken portions the reverse of the type which they are used to form. It will also be understood that I have not attempted in these drawings to show the appl cation of the principle of my invention to every letter of the alphabet, but only to illustrate it so far as to enable any workman to apply it to every letter of the alphabet and to every style of letter.

In Fig. l the letter B, represented by the die, is composed of three parts, the left-hand part of the figure being divided on the lines a; and z to form the parts A B 0, represented in the right-hand figure. In these figures (t represents raised portions of all the parts, these portions being of sufficient height to form raised surfaces in the height required in type.

In Fig. 2 I have shown in the same manner the letter D on the left hand, the parts being placed together with the divisional lines represented at m and z, leaving the parts A, B, and D, as shown, separated on the right hand of said figure. In the type for this letter, as shown, the parts A B are identical with the parts so marked in the letter B.

In Fig. 3 we have the same parts, A, B, and the part E, which is special to the letter E. In each one, therefore, of these three letters one half, (more or less,) according to the style of letter, is common to all, and one half, (more or less,) according to the style of letter, is special to each, and as the dies are used'in the press-singly or in small groups-the parts A B, for example, may serve as approximately one half the die for. every letter of the alphabet to which they are applicable.

In Fig. i I have illustrated the application of the principle to letters of any general character, though of the same style. In these letters the part G, which forms the left hand portion of O, C, and G, is the same in all, and the right-hand parts are special-F to O, and II to C, and I to G-and one piece, G, is sufficient for all these letters, thus saving in labor and stock one-third.

Fig. 5 shows the same principle applied, for example, to the letters U and J. Here the right-hand part K of both letters (shown in one figure) is the same, the partsL and M being special to the two letters. The line as here represents the line of separation between the two parts.

In Fig. 6 the parts O and P are special to the letter L, while the part B is the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This Fig. 6, being in perspective, shows the groove or bevel h arranged symmetrically in all the sections, so that they may be clamped and held with even surfaces, and all are pressed upon the wood to equal depth.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a die for the letter X in another style of type, which illustrates better the other feature of my invention namely, that in which the sectional character of the dies renders it easier to supplement the work of the pantograph in forming the angles and corners. In this figure the parts are shown placed together. They consist of pieces of two kinds, of which the central piece, I, is special to the letter X, and in fact forms substantially the whole of it without the marginal pieces. These pieces are marked q, and are both alike, each, however, forming no part of my invention, though usable with it. The parts of the die, being made separate, can be finished on the interior faces by means of a file, from the fact that the side walls or the parts of the dies represented by q g, which would depress the wood on the sides, for example, of the parts 0, are removable. The engraving-tool being circular and revolving can finish the interior faces, 1, for example, and, as the slots 2 are open 011 the sides, a file may be introduced and run through these open slots to finish the margins and points easily and accurately. The pieces 1 q, placed one on each side, occupy the space between the type, less the saw-kerf, when more than one is formed on the same block. At the same time they serve to give outline to the lower and upper parts of this letter, for example, as they would in any other letter having parts lying with similar margins; 01', to speak more accurately, in a die having similar open sides.

In Fig. 8 the die is composed of a special part, B, and two parts, A, which correspond in this style of letter to the parts A shown in the style of letter of the preceding figures. The central part, B, illustrates the facility with which the interior surface may be finished. ,This die also has an open margin, marked 3, which requires the interposed piece, q, to complete the shape of the type.

It will be apparent that my invention may be applied to a greater or less extent throughout the whole alphabet, the extent varying somewhat to the style of type and with the divisions; and I do not limit myself to the special form shown, nor do I limit myself to such characters as the letters of the alphabet, the invention being applicable to similar characters or forms required to be pressed on wood in the manner required by this type. I11 letters of the alphabet the interchangeability of the parts is of course limited to groups of letters for the most part, and is .mainly applicable to such groups.

In an application of even date herewith, filed by myself and George C. Setchell, Serial No. 292,719, is illustrated a part of the invention shown and claimed herein; but in that application no broad claim is made for a die made in sections.

I claim as my invention 1. A die for impressing wood, composed of detachably-connected sections, each section forming a part of the working-face of the die, substantially as described.

2. A group or set of dies for forming characters by impression with interchangeable parts, substantially as described.

A group of dies for letters of the alphabet, i'ormed in sections and having one part special to each letter of the group and another part common to all letters of the group, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM II. PAGE.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK II. ALLEN, ALONZO M. LUTHER. 

